Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1887-07-01
The Money Drawn on Vouchers in
Favor of Colby and Certified
to by the Same Party.
Governor Church Expresses His Dis
approval of the Continuance
Ofthe Present Management.
"A Rad State of Affairs,

i1br-nbEEN, -. L., ullC 1901
Gov. L. K. CHURCH, Bismarck, Oak.
DEAR S1R:-I have the pleasure of sub
mitting to you the following report con-
cerning the affairs gone over by me in my
investigation of the Dakota Hospital for
the Insane at Yankton, Dakota:
commenced this investigation May the
9th, 1887, and owing to the method of keep
ing books and doing business of the insti-
tuition have been delayed until this time in
completing the same. I find no diserepan-
cies in the records and accounts of the
steward. j. A. Potter, but found his dupli-
cate vouchers and monthly statements kept
in a good and business like manner What
has made the trouble and delay ia
this investigation was the manner
and way of doing business by the
trustees during the past two years.
They have, during that time. overlooked
their, duties as an advisory board and have
assumed the duties of superintendent Of the
institution and have disbursed several Of
the appropriations. In some instances they
have kept no vouchers and in no case have
they furnished to the auditor an itemized
statement for the amounts they have drawn
outof the several funds, thereby having no
clue during the time they operated as to
where and how the several funds have
been expended; and when placed on the
stand and asked to explain, their memory
fails them, and as that was, in most cases
the only record kept by them, it leaves no
thing whatever as a basis from their records
to estimate their doings during the two
years A. E. Colby acted as their secretary
and business manager.
During the last two years the board OF
trustees have taken out Of the stewards
charge the following funds:
Fuel and Light fund. ,...,..... 81, 500 90
improvements of hospital ground ...... $500 90
Completing hospital buildings. .......... $3.50 90
Team and conveyance Observation-Disclosures. 700 90
Building new buildings. ................ 1000 90
IOl2 Sl4,4U W
and have also duly installed their secre-
tary, Colby, as treasurer, superintendent
of construction and purchasing agent.
The money was drawn from the several
funds on vouchers in favor of Secretary
Colby and certified to as correct by Sec
retary Colby and the president Of the
board
The money was drawn on estimates by
Sectetary Colby long IN advance Of the
time the money would be needed for the
purposes for which it was appropriated
as follows:
During June. July and August. 1885, per
Colby vouchers:
Coal, Northwestern Fuel Co. 800 tons IS, $50 90
Completing and furnishing main build MN o.
From the new building fund .......... SIS 80
From sewerage fund. d...................... LULA Is
making total drawn in the above ninety
days on vouchers in favor Of A. E. Colby
of $89SO.7O.
For the estimates made by Colby he can
give no explanation, simply claiming that
the amount of money was drawn by him
personally as needed and was by him ju-
diciously invested. Williams, who was
president of the board at the time above
amounts were drawn did not know until
after the report of the board was made to
Governor Pierce, November 80, 1886. that
money had been drawn on estimates and
that it had not been expended as specified
in that report Van Tassel did not know
that the money drawn from the different
funds had MT been expended for the pur-
poses for which they were appropriated.
Powers does not know that money from
special funds was used for outside matters
and Colby, on whom Williams, Van Tas-
sci and Powers relied to carry out the work